UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS-based serum metabonomic revealed the alleviating effect of QingYan Formula on perimenopausal syndrome rats

The study aimed to investigate the relieving effect of QingYan Formula (QYF) in treating perimenopausal syndrome. A combination of metabonomic analysis and in vitro pharmacodynamic experiments was employed to achieve this objective.Over a period of 12 weeks, ovariectomized (OVX) rats were orally administered QYF's 70% ethanol extract or estradiol valerate (EV). The results demonstrate that QYF restored the estrous cycle of ovariectomized rats and exhibited significant estrogenic activity, as indicated by reversal of uterine and vagina atrophy, improvement of serum estradiol level and decrease of serum luteinizing hormone(LH) level. Additionally, QYF administration effectively reduced high bone turnover and repaired trabecular microstructure damage. Metabonomic analysis of the OVX rats treated with QYF revealed the identification of 55 different metabolites in the serum, out of which 35 may be potential biomarkers. QYF could regulate the disturbed metabolic pathways including the Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid metabolism, bile secretion, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. PI3KCA, SRC, and MAPK3 are potential therapeutic targets for QYF therapeutic effects. These findings support the efficacy of QYF in alleviating perimenopausal syndrome and regulating lipid metabolic disorders in OVX rats.